Wales football icon Gareth Bale has teed off at the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am at Wentworth, with his handicap having remarkably come down further from his last appearance in the star-studded event.
Last year, the former Real Madrid star partnered Rory McIlroy in the event, playing off 0.5. However, as he once again plays alongside the four-time major winner on Wednesday, he’s now playing off scratch – something McIlroy has previously predicted of the ex-Wales international.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast earlier this year, Mcllroy said: “I’ve played with Teddy Sheringham – good player. Gareth Bale – he has the potential to get to scratch [a handicap of zero], the way he hits the ball he could be a scratch player, but he’s only played for the last few years.
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“There is a difference between being able to hit the golf ball well and getting yourself around the golf course and managing your game – that’s the part he’s [Gareth Bale] learning now.”
World number three McIlroy is the highest-ranked player in this year’s tournament, with former England cricketer Stuart Broad, who plays off 6.4, joining him and Bale in their group.
Other celebrities taking part in Wednesday’s Pro-Am include recently retired tennis great Andy Murray, who will play alongside fellow Scot Robert MacIntyre, England cricketing legend James Anderson and Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke.
Hollywood actor Tom Holland, the star of Spider-Man and a 2.9 handicap, returns for a third appearance alongside his twin siblings Harry and Sam, with Tommy Fleetwood the professional in that group.
Besides Bale, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler are among the other notable names from the footballing world involved, with Troy Deeney and Ben Foster also involved.
England rugby captain Jamie George and fellow international Ben Earl feature, along with former St Helens rugby league star Jon Wilkin, with comedian Michael McIntyre, TV presenter Dan Walker and Olympic swimming medallist James Guy also playing.
Earlier this week, Bale joked that he “didn’t want to be the most famous golfer in Wales” as he seeks to help bring through a new generation of players in the country with his own junior golf tournament.
Selected celebrity handicaps (as listed for BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am):
James Anderson 1.8
Gareth Bale scratch
Tony Bellew 18
Stuart Broad 6.4
Troy Deeney 12
Anton du Beke 1
Ben Earl 5
Ben Foster 8
Robbie Fowler 7.2
Jamie George 9.8
Tom Holland 2.9
Andy Murray 7
Michael McIntyre 18
Jordan Pickford 9.9
Kevin Pietersen 2
Ollie Pope 1
Ben Stokes 3.6
Sam Thompson 21
Dan Walker +1.2
Jon Wilkin 8.8
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